Planes fly into the wind at Marion airport
A group of fanatics about radio-controlled airplanes gathered at Marion airport Saturday to fly their planes. Most of them are members of the Newton Area Radio-Control Club.
About 25 planes were on hand.
High winds and a humidity-laden, partly cloudy sky presented a challenge, but most flights were successful.
Tom Laswell, a retiree from Newton who has been a trainer for more than 20 years, had the misfortune to lose clear sight of his plane in the air due to hazy conditions, and the plane went down in a nearby wheat field.
Darrel Shults of Marion, vice president of the club, helped him locate the plane and pick up the pieces.
Fortunately for Laswell, he has 22 planes and three helicopters, so it wasn't a big loss.
"I've been trying to find more room in my basement; now I'll have it," he said.
Bob Hernandez, a real estate agent in Wichita, was one of the participants. He has been flying remote-controlled planes for about 20 years.
He said the club normally flies off grass, so the paved runway was a treat although it took more expertise to land the planes safely.
He said planes can have a wing span of 48 inches to 96 inches and can fly at speeds from 40 to 150 miles per hour. Engines vary from .4 cubic inch to 2.0.
Most of the planes run on glo fuel, a mixture of nitro-methane, lubricating oil, and methanol alcohol.
Roger Laswell, Newton, flew two ducted-fan jets. Rapidly turning fans inside the jets allow them to travel at higher speeds than propeller planes.
Supporters of Marion Skate Park provided concessions for the event, which ran from 3 to 7 p.m.
